Frasier is back in the building. Or at least its spirit lives on in Stacked, the Pamela Anderson sitcom that returns for a second season tonight at 8:30 p.m. on CH and Fox.
To the disappointment of headline writers everywhere, Stacked is not a bust. Despite Anderson's ample and enhanced assets, it is not even about a bust (although, producer denials to the contrary, there are plenty of boob jokes).
What it is is funny, in the one-set, character-driven, rat-tat-tat style that Frasier perfected. For a series that was thrown together in a minute last spring, Stacked is one well-cast, well-written comedy.
Tonight's episode, Nobody Says I Love You, finds book store hottie Skyler (Anderson) spreading a little love among her co-workers. When she cheerfully greets each of them with "I love you," they all freak out, with tart-tongued counter cut up Katrina (Marissa Jaret Winokur) guessing Skyler wants money, house intellectual Harold (Christopher Lloyd) deducing she is dying and Stacked slob Stuart (Brian Scolario) going all gooey.
Only store boss Gavin (Elon Gold) is spared those three little words, which leaves him feeling out of the love loop.
Even the temp delivery dude (guest star Kid Rock -- one of Anderson's ex's) gets the love gush from Skyler. "Meet me in the back of my truck," he pants. "I've got a bed made of bubble wrap."
Setting this series in a book store is the key to Stacked's success. Even standing still, Anderson is all about sex and that just seems even more titillating in a place where you might get shushed for making noise.
Instead of ducking the double entendres, writers and executive producers Steven Levitan and Jeffrey Richman pour them on and this cast chews through them with relish and plenty of mustard -- as well as other juicy condiments.
"Oh no -- I've got blueberry all over my Pucci," says Skyler after staining her dress. "What do you expect from a skirt that short?" says Katrina, keeping the spirit of Groucho Marx alive well into the 21st century.
The entire episode, save for one, brief, outdoor scene, plays on the single bookstore set. Stacked is an old fashioned, four-camera, I Love Lucy-style studio audience sitcom, very against the trend of the funny little mini-movies like this season's two break out comedies, Everybody Hates Chris or My Name Is Earl.
That it works is thanks to sharp writing and acting, especially from always dependable Lloyd. But give credit to Anderson, who knows how to sell a joke as well as a few billion calendars. Her looks helped make Stacked a potent draw for 18-49-year-olds when it debuted last spring. The surprise is that she has timing and takes to spare. The girl can't help it -- she's funny.
Next week there are two more reasons to watch. Jenny McCarthy guests as Skyler's high school chum who's just had a $30,000 make over. You'll want to catch the scene where they jump up and down and touch each other's implants. Hey, you never saw that on Frasier.
